PS3:Buying Guide

This page serves as a reference for the pros and cons of each model of PS3. This is all objectively based recommendations, with no bias for the appearance of the console. Acronym definitions can be found on the FAQ page.

First Generation Fat Consoles

All first generation fat consoles have a very high YLOD risk: Proceed with caution if you commit to buying one.

Model	Description	CPU/RSX Sizes	Default HDD Size	Motherboard	MinVerChk
CECH-A	First PS3 console released. Features full hardware based PS2 backwards compatibility (EE+GS) alongside four USB ports, two 128MB NAND flash chips, multiple card-reader ports, and the ability to play SA-CDs. Released in the U.S., Canada, and East Asia.	90nm RSX & 90nm CELL BE	60GB	COK-001	1.00
CECH-B	"Lower-end" version of the CECH-A. Came with a 20GB HDD, no card readers, and no Wi-Fi capabilities. Also only released in the U.S., Canada, and East Asia.	90nm RSX & 90nm CELL BE	20GB	COK-001	1.00
CECH-C	First console to see one of its PS2 hardware backwards chips (EmotionEngine chip) removed and instead have an emulated placeholder PS2 CPU. First PS3 to be released in Europe and Oceania, but wasn't released in the North/South America or Asia. PSUs in these models only operate at 220v-240v unless replaced.	90nm RSX & 90nm CELL BE	60GB	COK-002	1.00 / 2.30
CECH-E	Refresh of the CECH-C, but with an upgraded HDD. In some cases, the CECH-E might have a COK-002W motherboard, indicating that it has been refurbished. Released in North/South America and some parts of Asia.	90nm RSX & 90nm CELL BE	80GB	COK-002 or COK-002W	1.00 / 2.70 / 3.40

• A good way to distinguish first generation fats is by looking at the front of the console and seeing if the silver lining above the disc drive has reflection/is chrome. If it does, it is a guaranteed first generation fat.

Second Generation Fat Consoles

Model	Description	CPU/RSX Sizes	Default HDD Size	Motherboard	MinVerChk
CECH-G	First console to have the PS2 backwards compatibility chips completely removed, as well as two USB ports, the card reader ports, and the ability to play SA-CDs. Due to the 90nm RSX having defective manufacturing materials and removal of the front intake vents, this model is very likely to suffer from YLOD unless modified for bigger intake vents and/or modifying the fan speed. First PS3 to be released globally. PSUs in PAL versions are only 220v-240v unless replaced. Some refurbished CECH-Gs can come with a DIA-002 motherboard. Avoid this console.	90nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	40GB	SEM-001 or DIA-002	1.90 / 1.97 / 2.30
CECH-H	First console to use a 16MB NOR flash instead of two 128MB NAND flash chips.	90nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	40GB	DIA-001	1.97 / 2.30
CECH-J	First console to feature a 65nm RSX. Released in Japan, Europe, & Oceania.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	40GB	DIA-002	2.30
CECH-K	Similar to CECH-J, but with an 80GB hard drive. Released worldwide.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	80GB	DIA-002	2.16 / 2.30

Third Generation Fat Consoles

Model	Description	CPU/RSX Sizes	Default HDD Size	Motherboard	MinVerChk
CECH-L	The original third generation fat console. Many CECH-L NOR chips are known to have factory defects that cause RSOD. RSODs cannot be fixed unless you have CFW. Avoid this console.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	80GB	VER-001	2.30 / 2.45
CECH-M	Similar to CECH-L, but with fixed NOR chips. Only released in the UK & Ireland.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	80GB	VER-001	1.97 / 2.30
CECH-P	Similar to CECH-M, but with a larger capacity hard drive. North American units were bundled with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and European units were bundled with four PSN titles.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	160GB	VER-001	2.45
CECH-Q	Similar to CECH-P, but only released in Japan as a Final Fantasy VII Advent Children limited edition.	65nm RSX & 65nm CELL BE	160GB	VER-001	2.70?

Slim Consoles

Model	Description	CPU/RSX Sizes	Default HDD Size	Motherboard	MinVerChk
CECH-20XX	Slim launch model. Introduces multiple variants of consoles, distinguished by "A" or "B" in the model number and different hard drive sizes.	65nm RSX & 45nm CELL BE	120GB(A) or 250GB(B)	DYN-001	2.70
CECH-21XX	Second model of slims released.	40nm RSX & 45nm CELL BE	120GB (A) or 250GB(B)	SUR-001	3.20 / 3.40
CECH-25XX	Third model of slims released. Last models to support the installment of CFW, read note below for more information. Blu-Ray daughterboard is embedded in motherboard, lessening the chance of disc drive issues and eliminating the possibility of needing No-BD firmware.	40nm RSX & 45nm CELL BE	160GB(A) or 320GB(B)	JSD-001 or JTP-001	3.40 / 3.50 / 3.56 / 3.60
CECH-30XX	Fourth model of slims released. Does not support installation of CFW.	40nm RSX & 45nm CELL BE	160GB(A) or 320GB(B)	KTE-001	3.60 / 3.65 / 3.66 / 3.72 / 4.10

• IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CECH-25XXs: Consoles produced circa January 2011 and later are known to have an updated hardware encryption key (metldr2) and a MinVerChk of 3.60, and therefore cannot use CFW. A quick way to check if the console is downgradable is by looking at the datecode for a 0 or a 9, or at the manufacture date to check that it was produced prior to 2011. Consoles that fall into these date ranges can be downgraded. For consoles after this date, you can check if it is downgradeable by running MinVerChk on the console to ensure it reports 3.56 or below.

Super Slim Consoles

Model	Description	CPU/RSX Sizes	Default HDD/eMMC Size	Motherboard	MinVerChk
CECH-40XX	First model Super Slim.	40nm or 28nm RSX* & 45nm CELL BE	16GB eMMC(A) or 250GB(B) or 500GB(C) HDD	MSX-001 or MPX-001 or NPX-001	4.10? / 4.20 / 4.22 / 4.25
CECH-42XX	Second model Super Slim.	40nm or 28nm RSX* & 45nm CELL BE	16GB eMMC(A) or 250GB(B) or 500GB(C) HDD	MSX-001 or MPX-001 or NPX-001 or PPX-001 or PQX-001	4.40 / 4.45?
CECH-43XX	Third model Super Slim. The last PS3 to ever be released.	28nm RSX & 45nm CELL BE	16GB eMMC(A) or 250GB(B) or 500GB(C) HDD	RTX-001 or REX-001	4.45?

• IMPORTANT NOTE TO SUPER SLIMS: This generation of console is not compatible with CFW and cannot be modified to run classic PS3 homebrew. The only exploit that can be run is HAN or HEN, which allows for game backups to be run as well as some basic homebrew.
• *Note that you can also get Super Slims with a 40nm RSX, if you happen to get one with a MPX-001, or a MSX-001 motherboard.

Tips

• Always change the thermal paste when you buy a new console. This will ensure the longevity of the console and also make it quieter during use.
• When you get a CFW compatible console, it's recommended to install CFW and install webMAN MOD. webMAN allows you to modify the fan speed of the console which will also strongly contribute to increasing the maximum lifespan of it. A recommended setting is to set the fan speed to manual at 39%.